By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – The Champions Camp for individuals with special needs recorded its largest attendance ever, drawing 91 campers and their buddies for a weekend of activities tailored to them. The Louisiana Baptist summer camp for people with special needs matched participants with buddies who accompanied them during the event. The camp, whose previous record attendance was 50 set in 2024, featured karaoke, snow cones, ice cream party, fishing, games, bazooka ball, crafts, disco party and worship designed for children and adults from ages 8 and up who have intellectual or development disabilities. Lisa Smith, a member with First Baptist Church, Hornbeck, was among the buddies who attended the weekend with a camper. Smith was filled with joy as she witnessed her camper, Amber Holloway, enjoying camp for the first time. “I was here three minutes and was already crying,” Smith told the Baptist Message. “It was emotional for me, getting to see her and the other campers have so much fun.” Brenda Hudson, the mother of camper Alex Zimmerman, was moved to tears as she watched her son fish. “It touches my heart,” she said. “I’ve always wanted him to be involved in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Kirk Jones, pastor of Fellowship Church, Prairieville, will be nominated for the office of president with the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2025 annual meeting of church messengers. Bill Dye, pastor of North Monroe Baptist Church, shared with the Baptist Message, Sept. 10, his intention to make the nomination. The yearly gathering of Louisiana Baptists is scheduled to be held in the facilities of the Randolph Riverfront Center, Alexandria, Nov. 11. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Dye commended Jones’ character during the 15 years he has known him. “I’ve watched him lead his church through a variety of challenges,” Dye told the Baptist Message. “Kirk is a visionary leader with character.  He not only wants to do the right thing; he wants to do things the right way. And God has blessed that. He referenced the growth of Fellowship Church, which has grown from a few people who met in Jones’ living room in 2001 to a campus of more than 1,400 with 112 baptisms in 2025. “I know that numbers don’t always tell you what’s going on in a church,” Dye said. “The movement of the Spirit is more than buildings, bodies, and budgets.  Some of our … [Read more...]

By Office of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry BATON ROUGE, La. (Office of Gov. Jeff Landry) - The Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund has launched a statewide #PutThePhoneDown campaign to address the growing problem of excessive cellphone use and its adverse effects on Louisiana’s children. Governor Jeff Landry has proclaimed August as #PutThePhoneDown Month, encouraging families, educators, and communities to reduce screen distractions and focus on meaningful, face-to-face connections. Studies show that giving children screens as a distraction harms their language skills, emotional security, and social development. Educators across the state report rising classroom distractions, lower student engagement, and challenges in students’ focus and relationships. Research links excessive cellphone use among children and teens to increased anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, disrupted sleep, less physical activity, and poorer academic performance. “#PutThePhoneDown Month is about reclaiming our attention and our relationships,” said Executive Director of the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund, Ursula Anderson. “Too many people are trading face-to-face connections and meaningful conversations for endless scrolling. It’s time to … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Individuals with special needs will experience a full slate of activities during the upcoming Champions Camp, Sept. 5-7, at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. The camp will match participants with buddies who will accompany them throughout the weekend. The camp will feature games, activities, crafts, karaoke, worship and Bible study designed for children and adults, ages 8 and up, who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Champions Camp began with 20 participants in 2018 and surged to 55 campers in 2024. Already, there are 87 registrants for 2025. Champions Camp Director David Anderson, who also serves as the Louisiana Baptist children’s ministry strategist, had always dreamed of bringing the camp to Louisiana so people with special needs like his daughter, Chloe, could have a chance to experience camp like so many others. Anderson has been blessed to see the camp grow and to further fulfill his goal of expanding opportunities for individuals with special needs to experience spiritual enrichment at events hosted just for them. “I love all that I get to do in my ministry; however, this camp has a special place in my heart,” Anderson … [Read more...]